Draft-equalizer



(N6 Model.)

' A D. GONOVBR. Y

DRAFTVEQUALIZER.

No. 357,178. y Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

wit/nasse# l l v WM5 M@ K which is pivoted upon a bolt, E.

otal bolt, N.

following is a specification.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID CON OVER, OF MOUNT VERNON, INDIANA. Y

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.. 357,178, dated February 8, 1887.

` Application filed November i9. 1886. Serial No. 219,392. (No model.)

To all 7.0720711/ t may Concern.-

Beit known that I, DAVID CoNovEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mount Vernon, in the .county of Posey and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Draft-Equalizers, of which the My invention relates to an improvement in draft-equalizers for vehicles; and it consists infthe peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and` particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a top plan View of the front portion ofthe running-gear of a wagon provided with a draft-equalizer embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken on line x of Fig. l. l

A 4represents the front axle of a vehicle. B represents the hounds, which are attached to the front axle; and C represents the bolster or block, which is attached to the upper side of the hounds, directly over the front axle. Between the front ends of the hounds are secured the rear ends of the tongue or draft-pole D,

F represents a box, which is secured on `the upper side of the front portion of the hounds, the said box having a longitudinal slot or opening, G, the opposing sides of which are provided with longitudinal grooves H.

I represents a slide, which is provided on its sides with tongues K, that enter the grooves H, thus adapting the slide to be moved longitudinally back and forth in the box, which forms a guideway for the slide.

To the rear side of the block or bolster C is attached an ellipticspring, L, and to the upper side-of the slide, near the front end thereof, is secured a double-tree, M, upon the usual piv- Oy represents a strap, which has its front endv connected to the upper end of the bolt M, the rear end of the strap being secured to the slide by a keeper, P.

R represents a rod,which is attached to the rear side of the spring L. The said rod extends `forwardly and passes througha horizontal central opening which is made in the block or bolster C, andthe front end of the rod is attached to the keeper, and thereby secured to the slide. The usual single-trees are connected to the ends of the double-tree, and serve for the attachment of the team.

The function -of the spring L is to normally draw the slideI rearwardly toward the front axle.

rlhe operation of my invention is as follows: While the wagon is being drawn along the roadV the power of the horses is exerted against the spring L, which is sufficiently strong to withstand' the strain. In going down a grade, when the horses draw back upon the front end of the tongue, the spring instantly draws the doubletree rearwardly, thereby keeping the traces tight and preventing the single-trees from dangling from the ends of the double tree and striking against the horses heels. In traveling on rough and uneven roads, when one of the Wheels strikes a hollow orobstru'ction,rthe strain is withstood by the spring L, and the jerking motion of the wagon is prevented from annoying the horses. When the team Vfirst starts to draw the load,the spring L yields gradually `to the strain exerted by the horses, thus causing the wagon to be started slowly, and preventing the strain from being suddenly exerted against the shoulders of the horses when they start.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-.

r1. The combination guideway attached to the tongue or hounds and having the longitudinal grooves H in its opposing sides, the sliding block in the guideway, and having the tongues fitting in the grooves thereof, the said sliding block being adapted for the attachment of the-team, and the springV connected to the sliding block and drawing rearwardly thereon, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the front axle, the hounds attached thereto, the block or bolster C on the hounds, the elliptic spring L on the rear side of the said block or bolster, the lon` gitudinally-movable slide to which the doubletree is connected, the guideways for the said slide,and the rod connecting the slide with the rear side ofthe spring, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto affixed my signature in presence of-two witnesses.

Witnesses: DAVID CON OVER.'

J AMES WALKER, SAMUEL l). SLocUMB.

in a vehicle, of the4 ICO 

